Rail-Guided Cart Position Sensing for Accurate Article Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tracked cart systems, accurately detecting the shift amount from a predetermined stop position is necessary to ensure proper article transfer, as misalignment requires changes in transfer operations.
Innovation Solution
A tracked cart system with position recognition sensors on each rail, allowing the control section to derive the shift amount and inclination relative to a cell, and adjust the cart's position and transfer device to ensure accurate article placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tracked cart stops at a position shifted from the predetermined stop position, then the transfer operation can still be performed, but the article placement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control section uses position recognition sensors to detect the actual stop position of the tracked cart and compares it with the predetermined stop position. Based on this feedback, the control section automatically adjusts the transfer operation parameters (such as transfer distance or transfer speed) to compensate for the position shift, ensuring that articles are placed accurately at the predetermined location even when the cart stops at a shifted position.
2Measurement precision
If position recognition sensors are installed on each rail to detect shift amount, then the position detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The position recognition sensors installed on the rails serve multiple functions: they detect the position of the tracked cart, measure the shift amount from the predetermined stop position, and provide data for controlling both the tracked cart's movement and the transfer operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate detection systems for different purposes, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If the control section adjusts the transfer operation based on shift amount detection, then the article placement accuracy improves, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control section is pre-programmed with the relationship between position shift amounts and required transfer operation adjustments. When a position shift is detected, the control section automatically retrieves the appropriate correction parameters from stored data and applies them to the transfer operation, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations or manual intervention. This preliminary preparation of control logic simplifies the overall control complexity while maintaining high article placement accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
The overhead traveling vehicle system includes a tracked cart configured to move in a first direction when a traveling part travels on a pair of first rails and to move in a second direction when the traveling part travels on a pair of second rails, and a cart controller configured to control the tracked cart. The pair of the first rails and the pair of the second rails are provided with position recognition marks. The tracked cart is disposed to face position recognition marks and has four position recognition sensors configured to face the position recognition marks. The cart controller derives a shift amount between a predetermined position in the cell and a stop position of the tracked cart based on the position information acquired by the position recognition sensors.